Crying on my lunch break because I’ve realized I’ve seen more of the world than any of my relatives

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure that I should be sad but I’ve just started traveling in my adult years. I’m almost 40 and many of my family members are in their 70s, 80s, 90s now and never had the opportunity or financial means to travel.

I’ve only been to England and every state on the East Coast so far — so nothing terribly exciting but more than any of them have ever been able to.

I think of the family that died like my father and grandmother without ever going to the beach. Simple things I take for granted maybe?

Not sure what type of guilt I’m feeling but I am feeling it today.

[Anonymous]

Oh how sad.

[Anonymous]

It is not normal to cry about this.

I switched countries every 4-5 years as a kid, and now have spent more time living in the US than in my birth country. At one point, I had relatives living in every continent except Antarctica.

Some of my relatives never left my birth country. Some are very well traveled.

It's all fine. You can be a well-read, geopolitically-informed, wise human being without ever having left your village!

[Anonymous]

You are equating happiness with a very narrow viewpoint. Traveling and seeing the world is great for those with wanderlust. Maybe even yourself. But not everyone even wants to travel. Some may get their happiness surrounded by close family with little travel. Some don’t find travel fun. Broaden your perspective on happiness. Some are happy with health. Some are happy to have a child. Some are happy to have a new sofa. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure that I should be sad but I’ve just started traveling in my adult years. I’m almost 40 and many of my family members are in their 70s, 80s, 90s now and never had the opportunity or financial means to travel.

I’ve only been to England and every state on the East Coast so far — so nothing terribly exciting but more than any of them have ever been able to.

I think of the family that died like my father and grandmother without ever going to the beach. Simple things I take for granted maybe?

Not sure what type of guilt I’m feeling but I am feeling it today.

Are you sure it's guilt OP? Or just melancholy and nostalgia for family members missed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Oh how sad.

+ a bunch.

[Anonymous]

Are you sad because they are poor, and because they have expressed regret at not having your advantages?

There has to be more than just the fact that your relatives can't or won't go to the beach...
I hate beaches, for example - much prefer the mountains.

[Anonymous]

that time of the month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure that I should be sad but I’ve just started traveling in my adult years. I’m almost 40 and many of my family members are in their 70s, 80s, 90s now and never had the opportunity or financial means to travel.

I’ve only been to England and every state on the East Coast so far — so nothing terribly exciting but more than any of them have ever been able to.

I think of the family that died like my father and grandmother without ever going to the beach. Simple things I take for granted maybe?

Not sure what type of guilt I’m feeling but I am feeling it today.

Are you sure it's guilt OP? Or just melancholy and nostalgia for family members missed?

Op here. I feel emotional also when they talk about how segregated things were for them and how life was even at the times when they were my age. We are AA. They were all in the South their entire lives - deep VA and NC.

[Anonymous]

Traveling is overrated, expensive, terrible for the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure that I should be sad but I’ve just started traveling in my adult years. I’m almost 40 and many of my family members are in their 70s, 80s, 90s now and never had the opportunity or financial means to travel.

I’ve only been to England and every state on the East Coast so far — so nothing terribly exciting but more than any of them have ever been able to.

I think of the family that died like my father and grandmother without ever going to the beach. Simple things I take for granted maybe?

Not sure what type of guilt I’m feeling but I am feeling it today.

wow

[Anonymous]

How sad they missed out on paying thousands of dollars and hours in airports to go look at old buildings, crumbling castles, and statues splattered with pigeon poop.

Thanks to Google Earth, they can look at that without the expense and hassle of travel and not get pick-pocketed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:that time of the month

My first thought was to take a pregnancy test or get tested to see if you are in menopause. But maybe it’s just your period coming. I’m a women and your hormones sound off. I’m not a cryer but something like this could have done it when I was pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Do you even know that they WANTED to? I mean, my dad hates the beach. He doesn't like heat, doesn't like sand, doesn't particularly like to swim, so the beach doesn't appeal to him. Since becoming an adult he's gone maybe once every other decade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How sad they missed out on paying thousands of dollars and hours in airports to go look at old buildings, crumbling castles, and statues splattered with pigeon poop.

Thanks to Google Earth, they can look at that without the expense and hassle of travel and not get pick-pocketed.

Right? Everyone keeps telling me I should go to Ireland (no idea why) and I don't drink at all, am Jewish so all churches look the same to me, all castles pretty much look the same, all rolling hills of green grass look the same, so I'm not sure what I'd get out of it that's of value to me. Those are the things Ireland is known for.